President Rodrigo Duterte approved yesterday the pilot testing of face-to-face classes in schools located in areas with a low-risk of COVID-19 transmissions in January 2021.
“President Duterte approved during tonight’s Cabinet meeting the presentation of the Department of Education (DepEd) to conduct pilot implementation or dry run of face-to-face classes in select schools within areas with low COVID risk for the whole month of January 2021,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.
Roque clarified that in-person classes are not mandatory. “Having said this, a parent’s permit needs to be submitted for the student to participate in face-to-face classes,” he added.
The Palace official also said DepEd would work with the COVID-19 National Task Force in monitoring the dry run of face-to-face classes. Roque assured the public that the pilot testing would be conducted under “strict health and safety measures.”
The face-to-face classes dry run would be a shared responsibility among local governments, parents, and DepEd, Roque added.
National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that government may allow face-to-face classes but on a case-to-case basis.
Galvez, who is also the vaccine czar, said he is okay with in-person classes for medical courses. He cited the national task force already allowed the University of the Philippines College of Medicine to conduct a face-to-face clinical internship program.
Duterte OKs dry run of face-to-face classes in January
“Mayroon tayong mga tinatawag na mga courses na dapat talaga mayroon talagang tinatawag na experiential learning or tinatawag nating face-to-face,” he said.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) previously said that face-to-face classes would be optional for universities and colleges.
In May, President Rodrigo Duterte said no classes would be open until a COVID-19 vaccine is made available.
“It spells disaster,” Duterte said in a televised address, noting he would not risk the lives of students without a vaccine.
Senators, lawmakers, parents, and teachers at the time also opposed the opening of classes without a vaccine against the pandemic.
As of December 14, the Department of Health has recorded 1,339 additional cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, 41 recovered, and 24 died.
Of the total number of cases recorded in the country, 5.2% (23,253) were active cases, 92.9% (418,723) were cured, and 1.94% (8,757) died.